It has been 20 years since the Berrien Community Foundation opened its first scholarship program through the generosity and ingenuity of John and Dede Howard with the Howard Instrumental Music Scholarship.

The idea to help students caught on and the foundation now awards more than $100,000 each year in scholarships to deserving students from all over Berrien County.

From engineering, to teaching, to music, the foundation has scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors and adults returning to school.

“We have provided over $2.2 million in scholarships to local students,” said Berrien Community Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey. “It is because of the generosity of donors who see the need and step up to give that we are able to provide this assistance.”

This year, the Berrien Community Foundation will offer additional scholarship opportunities.

• The Ronald H. Miller Journalism Scholarship — Established to honor the memory of Ronald H. Miller, this scholarship is to encourage high school students of Berrien County who wish to pursue a career in Journalism.

• The All God’s Children Community Choir Scholarship — this renewable scholarship supports Berrien County High School students or current college students who participated with All God’s Children Community Choir for at least their junior and senior year of high school.

• Powered By Honor Scholarships — Available through the Berrien Community Foundation, this scholarship is for graduating seniors who are members of Honor Credit Union.

• IMS Scholarship for Benton Harbor High School Football — This scholarship was created to assist a graduating Benton Harbor High School Player with his college education and to offer mentoring assistance.

In addition to these new scholarships, the Berrien Community Foundation offers 26 additional scholarship programs which are available on the Berrien Community Foundation website.

Scholarships selections will be made by BCF volunteers and a celebration of 20 years of scholarships will be held in June.

The annual scholarship banquet provides an opportunity for donors to meet with students and learn more about their future plans.

Berrien County students are encouraged to visit www.berriencommunity.org/scholar for a complete list of available scholarships and criteria. Applications are available for download from the site.

Students can also check with their high school counselors for applications.

Applications are due March 4, 2016.

Decisions will be announced in early May. Please visit www.berriencommunity.org for more information or contact the Berrien Community Foundation at bcf@berriencommunity.org or by calling (269) 983-3304 ext. 2.